Snow Kiting In Niseko

[olivermauss 0]

So its getting a little colder these days. Want to take my kites up to Niseko. Anyone have any experience where you can do some Snow kiting up there?

[damian 0]

did you know that ThirtyTwo boots are really good for flying kites? Winter, Autumn, Summer and Spring.

[oo 1]

Deebee, had enough of that now, thanks

[olivermauss 0]

Could you decode that please?

[damian 0]

All I can say to you is san-ju-ni

[Ocean11 0]

Is that like getting dragged around by a kite when you're on a snowboard? Is that any good on the flat too, or are hills better?

[olivermauss 0]

From the pictures I've seen its just like kitesurfing, but on snow... I.e. you need large flats if youre into speeding, but theoretically only a smaller area if you wanna do tricks and stuff. You use a traction kite usually between 7-12 sqm meters in surface area, a control bar and harness(like any windsurfing harness). This stuff is excellent on water and looks like a lot of fun on snow so....

[Ocean11 0]

Have you actually tried this?

 

A friend of mine here tried to do it with a wake board on Lake Suwa and had a pretty hard time. Either the wind blew too hard or not enough. Plus a bunch of ambulances and police cars came screaming out one day thinking that he was a hang glider who had blown down from the mountains and met a wet end in the lake. It was rather embarrassing.

 

So a good deal of space and the understanding of those around might be requirements for that. I'd like to have a go at that on a beach with my Dirtsurfer. Actually, even more than a kite, I'd like to try one of those batwing things - they look even more fun.